suet

noun

su·​et ˈsü-ət 

: the hard fat about the kidneys and loins in beef and mutton that yields tallow

Examples of suet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Downy woodpeckers are common feeder birds that enjoy suet and black oil sunflower seeds. —Kier Holmes, Martha Stewart, 18 Jan. 2026

In addition to filling your bird feeders with seed and suet, providing birds with water is often overlooked, especially in winter when ice and snow make other water sources unavailable. —Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2026

Use cage-style suet feeders or tube feeders to prevent deer from getting to the birds' food. —Georgea Kovanis, Freep.com, 5 Jan. 2026

Packaged suet, cakes of beef fat mixed with seeds, corn meal, peanuts, mealworms, and other avian delicacies, is available commercially. —George Petras, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sewet, from Anglo-French suet, siuet, from seu, su hard animal fat, from Latin sebum

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

suet

noun

su·​et ˈsü-ət 

: the hard fat around the kidneys in beef and mutton from which tallow is made

Medical Definition

suet

noun

su·​et ˈsü-ət 

: the hard fat about the kidneys and loins in beef and mutton that yields tallow and that in prepared form is used in some pharmaceutical ointments